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Thursday, October 03, 2013

KARANGI'S MEN IN THE MALL

Kenya's General Julius Karangi meets General William M. Fraser III, during his visit to Langley in the USA.

The US military's close friend Kenya's General Julius Karangi used force when he seized control of the Kenya Mall operation from the police and other forces.

4 Oct: Standard: Westgate rumours mill in overdrive as State remains guardedThe secrecy that has shrouded the handling of the Westgate terrorist attack continues to raise eyebrows in the public sphere...Journalists were kept away in the early stages of the operation – ostensibly for their own safety – but days after the siege ended, access is still denied. Among the worst kept secrets is the massive looting of businesses inside the mall...For instance, Kenyans expected to be informed about the identities of the attackers, but this is yet to be done. Police say they are still investigating the incident.The authorities have also not explained the whereabouts of the bodies of the five terrorists said to have been killed by security agencies. Police informed the public that the first suspect died in hospital as he received treatment from gunshot wounds.An AK47 rifle was recovered from him during the Saturday evening clash, hours after the attack was staged.Details of the said weapon are yet to be made public but there are claims that it belongs to one of the Kenyan security agencies...http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000094866&story_title=westgate-rumours-mill-in-overdrive

4 Oct: Standard: Source reveals that lack of unified command led to confusion that even claimed the life of a police officerAt some point, the Recce unit was ordered to leave and hand over to the military, but not before losing at least one member to “friendly fire”. It is also not clear if they had time to share valuable intelligence with the military.It is also unclear why an army unit that lacks training in urban warfare, hostage rescue and counter terrorism was rushed to the site, complete with armoured personnel carriers and rocket propelled grenades powerful enough to bring down a building, but without intelligence...The latest suggestion by Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo that gunmen who attacked the shopping complex were probably between four and six added to the twist...The soldier who spoke to The Standard on condition of anonymity claimed security forces relied on an incomplete plan of the complex in the early stages of the operation.The initial building’s blueprints that security forces obtained did not show an underground tunnel now feared to have offered an escape route for some terrorists, the KDF soldier claimed...Mobile phone video footage from one of the soldiers shows blurred images of the charred aftermath of the attack.At one point, the soldiers speak in hushed tones and one wonders aloud in Kiswahili; “Walitoroka?” (Did they flee?) The reply is inaudible...http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000094865&story_title=details-of-westgate-operation-emerge